Vehicle security systems and methods including RFID enabled computer with occupant identification and safety system

ABSTRACT

Vehicle occupant identification and safety systems and methods include an RFID equipped vehicle having a computer system for controlling operating functions of the vehicle, an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of the vehicle, and processing logic associated with the computer system for determining when a vehicle operator has discontinued vehicle operation and for detecting a signal from the passenger RFID emitter so that the computer system may be activated to send a distress signal when the passenger has remained in the vehicle after a predetermined time from when the operator discontinued operation of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/212,469 filed Aug. 25, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,573,373, whichclaimed the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/695,707 filed Jun. 30, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/604,734 filed Aug. 25, 2004 all of which are herein incorporatedby reference in their respective entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to RFID systems and, in particular, toRFID equipped vehicles. More specifically, but without restriction tothe particular embodiments hereinafter described in accordance with thebest mode of practice, this invention relates to vehicle immobilizersystems and methods including RFID enabled computers and associatedlicense plates with RFID tags.

2. General Discussion and Related Art

There are devices currently available on the market that disable avehicle during a high speed pursuit. One such method employs a bruteforce approach using high voltage or microwave energy to practicallydestroy a vehicle's computer and wiring system. Once this method isapplied to the automobile's electrical system, it is virtuallyimpossible and prohibitively expensive to restore the automobile back toan operational condition.

As RFID key evolution matures, wide scale adoption will progress in amanner similar to that of anti-lock braking, air bags, and other systemsthat have become standard features in the modern motor vehicles oftoday. It is anticipated that RFID technology will also become widelyaccepted over the next several years thus becoming a standard feature inmotor vehicles of the future. The inventor hereof, however, believesthat since car thieves will then no longer be able to hot wire newervehicles from a parked condition in the absence of the driver, therewill therefore be more incidents of car-jacking with vehicle owners ordrivers taken hostage. Thus the present invention proposes variousembodiments of anti-carjacking apparatus, systems, and methods for theavoidance of hi-speed pursuits which also provide for the preservationof occupant safety.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to improve uponprior art anti-theft systems and methods for automobiles.

Another object of this invention is to avoid high-speed pursuits.

It is a further object of the present invention to prevent hostagetaking during a carjacking.

Still another object of the present invention is to reduce car theft.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide occupant safetysystems for means of passenger transportation including automobiles.

Yet still a further object of this invention is to enable a vehicle todetermine when a passenger has been located within the vehicle for toolong of a period after discontinued operation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to utilize an embedded RFID tag in alicense plate to disable operation of a vehicle when the license placeis removed from the vehicle.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with the presentinvention wherein there is provided an anti-carjacking system includinga transmitter programmed to receive a selected vehicle identificationnumber (VIN) for use with a car assigned with that particular vehicleidentification number; a receiver associated with the computer system ofthe car so identified by the selected vehicle identification number;means for disabling normal driving operation of the car; and means forsending a disable command from the transmitter to the receiver so thatthe particular car with selected vehicle identification number isrendered non-operational.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the car includes a fuelpump and the means for disabling normal driving operation of the carincludes interrupting the flow of fuel from the fuel pump to the car'sengine.

According to another aspect of the present invention the car includes aradio and the transmitter sends the disable command by radiotransmission.

In brief, the present invention may preferably include the followingtechnical and operational aspects: (1) a working range is 5 to 10 feet;(2) a programmable memory map; (3) in one particularly preferredembodiment, ten allocated memory addresses are assigned to allowmultiple members of a family or company to properly and safely operatethe same vehicle; (4) a designated address being reserved for shut downmode using VIN code or an universal code; (5) a multiple address groupfor high value cargo such as, for example, infants, children, or highprice instruments; and (6) license plate theft prevention requires amemory address of its own.

More specifically, the present invention is also directed to a vehicleoccupant identification and safety system. One particular embodiment ofthis system may advantageously include an RFID equipped vehicleincluding a computer system for controlling operating functions of thevehicle; an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of the vehicle, the RFIDemitter in communication with the vehicle computer system when thepassenger is in the vehicle; and processing logic associated with thecomputer system for determining when the vehicle has concluded operationand for detecting a signal from the passenger RFID emitter so that thecomputer system may be activated to send a distress signal when thepassenger has remained in the vehicle after a predetermined time fromwhen the vehicle has discontinued operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided avehicle identification and immobilizer system. In a particular preferredembodiment thereof, this system includes an RFID equipped vehicleincluding a computer system for controlling operating functions of thevehicle; an RFID tag associated with a license plate of the vehicle, thelicense plate for display in a pre-determined location on the vehicle;an RFID reader positioned proximate the pre-determined location for thedisplay of the license plate, the RFID reader being linked to thecomputer system and in communication with the RFID tag in the licenseplate when displayed in the pre-determined location on the vehicle; andprocessing logic associated with the computer system for determiningwhen the license plate has been removed from the pre-determined locationso that the computer system may be activated to send a disable signal toat least one of the operating functions of the vehicle.

In accordance with certain implementations of certain aspects of thisinvention, there is also provided a method for vehicle occupantidentification and safety. In a particular embodiment thereof, thismethod may advantageously include the steps of providing an RFIDequipped vehicle including a computer system for controlling operatingfunctions of the vehicle; providing an RFID emitter for use by apassenger of the vehicle, the RFID emitter in communication with thevehicle computer system when the passenger is in the vehicle; andproviding processing logic associated with the computer system fordetermining when the vehicle has concluded operation and for detecting asignal from the passenger RFID emitter so that the computer system maybe activated to send a distress signal when the passenger has remainedin the vehicle after a predetermined time from when the vehicle hasdiscontinued operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further objects of the present invention together with additionalfeatures contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom will beapparent from the following description of certain preferred embodimentsof the invention which are shown in the accompanying drawing with likereference numerals indicating like components or like method stepsthroughout, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial schematic view of a system according to thepresent invention involving police dispatched shut-down of a vehiclefrom a fixed location;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of some of the principal components associatedwith the vehicle of FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing some of the principal components ofthe radio system of this invention as implemented in association withthe police dispatcher location of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial schematic view of a system involving policedispatched shut-down of a vehicle by use of a hand-held transmitterdevice according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of some of the principal components associatedwith the hand-held transmitter device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the hand-held transmitter deviceillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a general system block diagram of a car radio according to thepresent invention as cooperatively integrated with a vehicle's RFidentification system to achieve vehicular disablement according to aprincipal aspect of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a detailed block diagram of the modified car radio accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a side elevation view of an automobile showing in phantomline the vehicle's computer and an RFID embedded license plate accordingto another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a block diagram depicting the license plate of the presentinvention cooperatively interacting with the RFID reader and enginecontrol unit of an RFID equipped vehicle;

FIG. 9C is a block diagram illustrating the principal components of theRFID embedded license plate of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is logic flow chart showing one of the various methodsassociated with the RFID embedded license plate according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a top view of an automobile in a speed control zone or paytoll zone illustrating an interactive vehicle ID, authentication, andcontrol system according to another principal aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a side view pictorial diagram of the interactive vehicle ID,authentication, and control system of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the principal components of theinteractive vehicle ID, authentication, and control system of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14A is a logic flow chart showing one of the various preferredmethods associated with the speed control zone aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14B is another logic flow chart illustrating one of the possiblemethods associated with the pay toll zone aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is yet another logic flow chart showing a second one of themethods associated with the speed control zone aspect of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a pictorial and block diagram view of a child safety aspectaccording to still another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a pictorial and block diagram view similar to FIG. 16illustrating an animal safety aspect according to yet a further aspectof the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a logic flow chart showing one of the methods associated withthe occupant safety aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a multi-aspect logic flow chart showing several of themethods of the present invention integrated into a multi-method systemaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic view of oneembodiment of a system according to the present invention involvingpolice dispatched shut-down of a vehicle from a fixed location. Thissystem includes an automobile, vehicle, car, or other motor vehicle 102equipped with on-board RFID components of the present invention whichare co-operatively integrated with corresponding system componentspermanently housed in a fixed location such as, for example, a policestation, sub-station, or unmanned building structure or radio stationidentified in FIG. 1 as Police Dispatcher block 104. The functionalityof the police dispatcher may also readily be implemented in a satelliteor system of satellites in orbit around the earth. Generally, accordingto one method of the present invention, the police dispatcher 104 sendsa signal to the car 102 which, in turn, is thereby disabled. Lawenforcement officials approach the vehicle during pursuit then use atransmitter to send a “disable command” to automatically and safelydisable the vehicle. The disable command may be transmitted from a fixedlocation such as a police station 104, from a satellite 106 (FIG. 2), orfrom a hand-held device or unit 108 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

With particular reference now to FIG. 2, there is shown a block diagramof some of the principal components associated with the vehicle of FIGS.1 and 4. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, thevehicle 102 is provided with a car radio 110 having an RFID repeater.The car radio 110 is implemented to operatively cooperate with thevehicle's RFID system. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the vehicle's RFIDsystem includes an RFID reader 112, an engine control unit or ECU 114which is electronically engaged with the vehicle's horn 116, lamps orlights 118, and the vehicle's ignition system 120 hereinafter referredto as ignition, ignition coil, or ignition system 120. In the case of aproperly encoded signal from the police dispatcher 104, or the satellite106, or the hand-held device 108, the car radio 110 receives the signalaccordingly and further transmits an appropriate signal to the RFIDreader 112. The ECU is thereby notified, and software in the ECU 114then disables the vehicle according to one of many pre-determineddisable protocols. FIG. 2 also includes a RFID Tag which is typicallyhoused in the vehicles key fob. This is illustrated by block 121hereinafter referred to as RFID tag 121 or key fob 121. As understood byone of skill in the art of this industry, when the ignition key isinserted into the steering column or key hole, the key fob 121 emits asignal to the RFID reader 112. In this manner, only a person with theproper key may start the car. Currently there are offered differenttypes of keys with this capability. They may include 40 bit, 48 bit, 60bit, or 128 bit codes which employ encryption as understood by those ofskill in the art.

Thus according to the invention, in the case of a witnessed car-jacking,the witness may call 911, providing police dispatchers with thevehicle's license plate number. The police dispatcher may then broadcastthe shutdown code to disable the vehicle. In accordance with anotheraspect of this invention, the police dispatcher may also activate theGlobal Position System (GPS), as appropriately implemented in a vehicle,to determine the location of the vehicle and to send help as needed.

As represented in FIG. 2, the police dispatcher 104, satellite 106, orhand-held device 108 sends out a radio signal. This signal may containstandard radio broadcast information and a carrier signal operable andcompatible with the modified car radio system as described. In thismanner, if the subject vehicle is identified as a stolen car, forexample, the base station may broadcast a signal which will disable thesubject vehicle from further operation. The inventor hereof envisionsthat all automobiles sold in the U.S., for example, be required to haveas standard safety equipment the system of the present invention.Further in combination therewith, a nation wide network of enabled radiosub-stations is proposed. In this manner, local, state, or federalgovernment agencies are envisioned as the operations of the system tolocate and disable all stolen cars nation wide. With such a systemdeployed and maintained, auto theft may become a thing of the past.

With reference next to FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagramillustrating some of the principal components of the police radio systemof this invention as implemented in association with the policedispatcher location 104 of FIG. 1. The police radio system asimplemented in the police dispatcher 104 according to the presentinvention is preferably a software defined radio system which isprogrammable to receive and transmit various signals which may beencoded, encrypted, or otherwise rendered proprietary or protected aswould be understood by one of skill in the art. The radio systemillustrated in FIG. 3 thus includes RF circuitry 122 with an antenna, amicro-processor unit or MPU 124, random access memory or RAM 126,storage memory 128, a keyboard 130, and other input/output devices whichmay include a microphone 132, a monitor or display 134, and a speaker orspeakers 136. In accordance with this aspect of the present invention,the memory 128 of the police radio system includes a listing of vehicleidentification numbers (VIN). As generally understood, the VIN is aseventeen alpha numeric sequence in the format “12,345,679,0AB,CDE,XYX”.Thus in this manner, in the event a particular car is stolen, the policedispatcher may quickly program the police radio system to broadcast asignal that is received by the car radio 110, FIG. 2, which in turn willpromptly disable operation of the car. As would be readily understood inview of the present disclosure, this system is not necessarily limitedto the use of VIN. License plate numbers, for example, or other serialnumbers or codes may be easily adopted and implemented in thealternative.

One preferred use of the present invention involves hot-pursuit by thepolice of either a stolen car or criminals attempting to flee the policeby motor vehicle. As the police are in hot pursuit, all they need to doin order to safely apprehend the occupants is to radio the dispatcherand provide the license plate number of the vehicle under pursuit. Thedispatcher then, in turn, broadcasts a disable signal and the vehicleunder hot pursuit comes to a slow, harmless stop. As will be describedbelow in further detail, this is achieved by the present inventionwithout any damage to the vehicle. Furthermore, widespread adoption anduse of the present invention will reduce or eliminate the nowall-to-frequent innocent by-stander tragedies that often result frompolice hot pursuits.

As an alternative or compliment to the fixed location dispatched systemsdiscussed above, the present invention also provides a mobileembodiment. With specific reference now to FIG. 4, there is shown apictorial schematic view of this alternate system directed to policedispatched shut-down of the vehicle 102 by use of the hand-heldtransmitter device 108.

A block diagram of some of the principal components associated with thehand-held transmitter device 108 is shown in FIG. 5. As in the case ofthe police dispatcher software defined radio system shown in FIG. 3, thehand-held transmitter device 108 as shown in FIG. 5 includes the RFcircuitry 122 with antenna, the micro-processor unit or MPU 124, therandom access memory or RAM 126, and the storage memory 128. Rather thanincluding a keyboard, the compact hand-held unit 108 is provided with akeypad 138 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this manner, both numbersand letters may be input into the device. The hand-held device 108 mayadvantageously include an output display 140. In the preferredembodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the device 108 includes a set key 142,a reset key 144, and an emit key 146. As one example of inputting bothnumbers and letters from the keypad, one press of the “2” key may beassigned to the number 2, two presses of the “2” key may be assigned tothe letter “A”, three presses of the “2” key may be assigned to theletter “B”, and four presses of the “2” key may be assigned to theletter “C”.

In use of the device 108, a police officer or other authorized officialinputs via the keypad 140 the vehicle's VIN, license plate number, orother ID code. The set key 142 may then be pressed so that the input isproperly registered with the device. As illustrated in FIG. 4, thedevice 108 is then pointed at the vehicle in question and withactivation of the emit key 146, a prescribed disable signal is directedfrom the device 108 to the vehicle 102. Depending on the power and rangeof the device 108, the signal may be detected by either the car radiowith RFID repeater 110, FIG. 2, or alternatively directly by the RFIDreader 112 also illustrated in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 7, there is shown a general system block diagram of the carradio 110 as cooperatively integrated with the vehicle's RFidentification system to achieve vehicular disablement according to oneof the principal aspects of this invention. As illustrated, the carradio 110 includes a receiver circuit 148, an audio circuit 150,speakers 152, and an RFID repeater 154. As illustrated, the RFIDrepeater 154 transmits its signal to the RFID reader 112 in thevehicle's RFID system.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 8, there is shown a detailed blockdiagram of the modified car radio 110 including the receiver circuit148, the audio circuit 150, and the RFID repeater 154 which iswirelessly engaged with the vehicle's RFID reader 112 and the ECU 114 asshown. As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the RFID repeater 154 includesa decoder 156 and an RFID transmitter 154. As would be readilyunderstood by one of skill in the art, a radio signal is received by theradio antenna, directed to the RF amplifier, and then further processedby the local oscillator, mixer, filter, intermediate frequency (IF)amplifier, demodulator, and audio amplifier to produce sound at thespeaker output 152. In accordance with teachings of the presentinvention, the RFID repeater 154 including the decoder 156 and the RFIDtransmitter 154 is connected as shown to the receiver circuit 148between the RF amplifier and the mixer. In this manner, when anappropriate disable signal is transmitter from either the policedispatcher 104, the satellite 106, or the hand-held device 108, (FIG.2), the disable signal is received by the antenna of the receivercircuit 148, amplified by the RF amplifier, directed to the RFIDrepeater 154 where it is decoded by the decoder 156 and then transmittedby the RFID transmitter 158 to the RFID reader 112, and then directed tothe ECU 114 to thereby disable the vehicle accordingly.

With reference now to FIG. 9A, there is illustrated a side elevationview of the automobile 102 showing in phantom line the vehicle'scomputer or ECU 114 and an RFID embedded license plate 160 according toanother aspect of the present invention. The RFID embedded license plate160 is preferably only employed on the rear of the vehicle 102. In thisembodiment, the license plate of the car has an imbedded RFID systemwhich is enabled to work in conjunction with the vehicle's computer.Thus according to this aspect of the invention, if the car is stolen andthere is an attempt to change the license plate of the car, the car willbecome non-operative because the RFID transmitter embedded in thelicense plate is missing from the read zone of the vehicle's RFIDreader. Thus any attempt to switch plates for criminal purposes will beprevented by this aspect of the present invention:

More particularly now with reference to FIG. 9B, there is shown a blockdiagram including license plate 160 cooperatively interacting with theRFID reader 112 and engine control unit 114 of an RFID equipped vehicle.Thus in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, when thelicense plate 160 is removed from the read zone of the RFID reader 112,the ECU will detect the absence of the plate. This will in turn triggerone of various disable protocols which will then be executed by the ECU114. Such protocols may include, for example, a “do-not-start” or“do-nothing” command if the vehicle is in a parked, non-moving conditionwhen the license plate 160 is removed from the read zone of the RFIDreader 112, or a “discontinue-fuel-flow” in the same case or if there isany attempt to remove the license plate 160 from the read zone of theRFID reader 112 when the vehicle is in motion. More commonly, otherprotocols may include “sound-horn” or “flash-lights” commands eitherexecuted individually, alternatively, or in combination with the“do-not-start” or “discontinue-fuel-flow” commands.

FIG. 9C is a block diagram illustrating the principal components of theRFID embedded license plate 160 of the present invention. Asillustrated, the license plate 160 includes a transmitter 162, an RFIDcircuit 164, and a serial number 166. The RFID circuit may includememory for storing the serial number 166, or the serial number maysimply be hard wired or otherwise hard coded in the RFID circuit 164. Asillustrated in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the distance between the license plate160 and the RFID reader 112 is short range, preferably on the order ofonly a few inches or centimeters. In this manner, the plate 160 may notbe removed from its proper location and otherwise placed in the car tothereby be concealed from authorities and still be within the read zoneof the reader 112. Thus placement of the antenna of the RFID readerwould preferably be within the car frame or trunk cavity locatedimmediately adjacent the antenna of the license plate 160. As would bereadily understood by one of skill in the art given the presentdisclosure, the serial number may include any convenient number such asthe VIN, the actual number of the license plate, or any other code ornumber that for intended purposes uniquely associates the license platewith a specific vehicle.

Referring next to FIG. 10, there is shown a logic flow chartillustrating one of the various methods associated with the RFIDembedded license plate 160 of the present invention. As illustrated, onesuch preferred method is initiated at step 168 where the ECU 114 isengaged to run a license plate ID and driver ID routine. At step 170,first the driver ID is checked. This check is based on the driver havingthe proper key fob 121, FIG. 2, associated with the vehicle. If thedriver ID check is confirmed as OK, the routine will proceed to step172, if not, then the routine will proceed to step 182 and the car willbe prevented from starting when it is in a stopped condition or if in amoving condition, the ECU 114 will disable ignition by reducing fuelinjection to a “no-flow” condition. At step 172, the license plate ID ischecked. If the license plate check is negative or “no”, the routineproceeds to step 182 and the “do-nothing” or “disable” commands areexecuted by the ECU. If the license plate check is positive, OK, or“yes”, the routine proceeds to step 174 and the car is allowed to start.Once the car is then running, step 176 checks to determine whether RPMis generated. If the car is stopped with the engine turned on, theengine function remains enabled. When the car is stopped and the engineturned off, the “Trip Expires” step 178 disables the ignition function.If the trip has not expired, driver and license plate ID checks arerepeated.

With reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12, there are shown a top and sideviews of an automobile 102 in a speed control zone or pay toll zoneillustrating the interactive vehicle ID, authentication, and controlsystem according to another principal aspect of the present invention.The system includes the car 102 as equipped with the invention hereof,and further includes a road side RFID reader 184 which is cooperativelyconnected to a computer or computer and computer database 186. As thecar 102 proceeds through the zone, the license plate 160 and the key fob121 are emitting their short range signals. The read zone created by theroad side RFID reader 184 is large enough to cover the entire speedcontrol or pay toll zone. Thus as the car passes through the zone, theroad side reader 184 reads either one or both of the signals emitted bythe license plate 160 and the key fob 121. The computer data base 186includes a listing of valid VIN, license plate numbers, and any othertypes of codes that may be associated with the vehicle.

According to this aspect of the present invention, the license plate 160has not been switched by a thief or high-jacker who has stolen the car.In this situation, the car equipped with the RFID license plate is beingdriven through the “speed control zone” as illustrated in FIG. 11. Thecar's computer is advantageously programmed and equipped with speedcontrol response capabilities as further described below with referenceto FIG. 13. In this manner, when the car is driven through the zone, theroad side RFID reader 184 reads the vehicle ID and operates to controlthe speed of the car or otherwise completely disable the car fromoperating. Many applications of this aspect of the present invention areenvisioned by the inventor hereof. One such application, for example, isuse of this system in controlled government areas such as military basesor diplomatic areas. Only cars with known IDs would be allowed to passthrough the zone. In alternate embodiments of this system, the RFIDtransmitter need not necessarily be embedded in the license plate. Otherconfigurations and locations of the transmitter/transponder and receiversystem may be readily implemented according to the principal aspects ofthis invention.

Referring now to FIG. 13, there is shown a block diagram of theprincipal components of the interactive vehicle ID, authentication, andcontrol system of the present invention. Components thereof discussedabove will not be initially repeated here for the sake of convenience.As illustrated, the ECU 114 is further engaged with a vacuum controldiaphragm 188, a fuel injector 190, and a speed sensor 192 as associatedwith the vehicle's typical operational functions. The speed sensor 192is connected between the ECU 114 and vehicle's transmission 194. In thismanner, the ECU 114 (as programmed according to the various methods andprotocols described herein) is enabled to control the speed of the carand over-ride the drivers direct control when one of various differentcontrol signals is sent from the road side RFID reader 184 to thevehicle's RFID reader 112. For example, the vehicle may be completelystopped by deactivating the ignition coil 120. In addition, the speed ofthe vehicle may be controlled by a signal sent from the road side RFIDreader 184 to the vehicle's RFID reader 112 which commands the ECU 114to reduce the fuel rate in the fuel injector 190, or the amount ofvacuum via the vacuum control diaphragm 188. The speed sensor 192 willgive continuous feed back to the ECU 114 thus allowing speed reductionor stopping to be controlled in a precise and predictable manner.

FIG. 14A is a logic flow chart showing one of the various preferredmethods associated with the speed control zone aspect of the presentinvention. In this method, a read mode 196 is initiated by the system.At step 198, authorization is checked. If the car is authorized, theroutine proceeds to step 200 and if not, a sentry alert signal is sentfrom the computer 186. Authorization may simply include a check as towhether the car is properly registered, or has all fees associated withthe driver's responsibility have been paid. This may includeregistration fees, parking fees, or traffic citation fees, or any otherofficial or court ordered fees. According further to the speed controlaspect of the invention, the step 200 inserts an instruction flag intothe signal which is sent to the car's ECU. Such an instruction flag maybe selected from the set including, for example, “A1=15 mph”, “A2=25mph”, “A3=35 mph”, “A4=45 mph”, “A5=55 mph”, “A6=65 mph”, and “A7=75mph”. In this manner, step 204, “Send Speed Instruction” sends, forexample the flag A3 in a 35 mile per hour zone to the vehicle. If thevehicle is exceeding 35 mph, the car's ECU automatically takescorrective action to bring the speed of the car within the requirementof the zone. In the last step 206, the car is allowed to pass withoutshut down if the required speed and or authorization have been achieved.

With continued reference now to FIGS. 13 and 14A, the vehicle's speedsensor 192 which is mounted on the output shaft of the transmission 194sends electrical pulses to the computer or ECU 114, pulses which aregenerated by a magnet spinning past a sensor coil. When the vehicle'sspeed increases, the frequency of the pulses correspondingly increases.For any given speed of the vehicle there is a corresponding pulsefrequency. It is this pulse frequency which the cruise control, forexample, tries to maintain as a constant. The speed control part of theECU 114 has three functions. First, it stores the speed control code ofvarious speeds of the vehicle in the memory. When speed control flag(FIG. 14A) is received by the ECU 114, the system will check for a speedtable and send instructions accordingly, step 204 of FIG. 14A. Second,it receives the pulses from the transmission sensor and compares thefrequency of those pulses to the frequency value stored in its memory.This is defied as the “set point”. Third, it sends pulses to a vacuumcontrolled diaphragm 188 connected to the accelerator linkage. Thepulses it sends regulates the amount of vacuum the diaphragm receives.The more pulses, the more vacuum and the more vacuum the more force onthe accelerator linkage. The system continues to add vacuum force untilthe set point speed is reached. At that point the system modulates theamount of vacuum the diaphragm receives in an effort to maintain thenumber of pulses coming from the speed sensor as close to the storedvalue as possible.

FIG. 14B is another logic flow chart illustrating one of the possiblemethods associated with the pay toll zone aspect of the presentinvention. This method is initiated by the read mode step 196. The carauthorization step 198 is then performed on the vehicle as it passesthrough the automated toll booth according to the present system.Authorization in this embodiment may be preferably linked to maintaininga current account with the toll authority having a positive cashbalance. If authorization is approved, the car is allowed to pass andthe owner's account information is updated by deducting the amount ofthe toll from the then current balance. If the account is in default, ornon-existent, then in step 210 a photo is taken of the license platewith time and date stamp, and a traffic violation citation or ticket ismail by the toll authority or police to the registered owner of thevehicle.

With reference next to FIG. 15, there is presented yet another logicflow chart showing a second one of the methods associated with the speedcontrol zone aspect of the present invention. In this method, a driverID and speed control ID routine is initiated at step 212. Next at step170, the driver ID check is performed. As discussed above, this check isbased on the driver having the proper key fob 121, FIG. 2, associatedwith the vehicle. If the driver ID check is confirmed as OK, the routinewill proceed to step 174, if not, then the routine will proceed to step182 and the car will be prevented from starting when it is in a stoppedcondition or if in a moving condition, the ECU 114 will disable ignitionby reducing fuel injection to a “no-flow” condition. At step 174, theengine ignition and fuel injection system are activated. Step 176performs the RPM test as discussed above. The speed control step 214then determines if the speed is too high as determined by the PRM test.If the speed is above a set limit, then the routine proceeds to step 216where a speed instruction is sent to the ECU. In this method, step 214may correspond to step 200 of the method discussed in connection withFIG. 14A and similarly, step 216 of FIG. 15 may correspond to step 204in FIG. 14A. This method then concludes with the trip expires step 178and disable step 180 as discussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 16, there is shown a pictorial and block diagramof a child or occupant safety aspect according to still another aspectof the present invention. According to this aspect of the presentinvention, a child or other occupant 218 seated in a car seat 220 with asafety belt attached is provided with a personal RFID emitter device222. In the case of a child, the personal RFID emitter 222 may be housedin a child's wrist watch or bracelet as illustrated. Several personalemitters may be supplied by the manufacture of the vehicle so that allmembers of an owner's family may be outfitted accordingly. The personalemitter 222 emits a continuous ID signal within the read zone of theRFID reader 112. The ECU is programmed to recognize the signal andinitiate certain protocols when system parameters are in certainconditions and relationships. For example, if the child passenger hasbeen in the car for a pre-determined amount of time without the carrunning, this many cause an alarm to sound. In this case, the ECU 114may activate the horn 116 and or lights 118 to call to the attention ofpassers-by or others with range of the car. A protocol to activate adistress signal represented in block 224 may be initiated in carsequipped with telephone communications systems. Auto dial functions maythen be initiated by the ECU 114. The activated signal may call 911 asin block 226, call the parent's cell phone as in block 228, or dial aprivate safety and security service as in block 230. Thus according tothese aspects of the present invention, a child inadvertently leftbehind in a vehicle will soon have needed attention so as to avoidneglect and other tragedies such as heat exposure or suffocation.

According to another aspect associated with the personal RFID emitterdevice 222, an adult occupant may be outfitted with such a device thathas disable command capability build-in, such as a panic button built-into the device that is wearer activated. Thus in the event of a carjacking if vehicle's owner taken hostage, the small transmitter has apre-programmed shutdown code either portable or fixed with multiplestrategically mounted activation switches such as in the trunk,passenger seat, rear seat, or elsewhere which give the vehicle's owneror family member chances to trigger the shutdown mode and to send outdistress signal.

FIG. 17 is a pictorial and block diagram view similar to FIG. 16illustrating an animal safety aspect according to yet a further aspectof the present invention. Here, the personal RFID emitter device 222 isinstalled in a pet collar as illustrated by way of example. In thismanner, the family pets may be protected against inadvertent periods oflong duration in the car without needed attention. As with the childsafety feature discussed above, if the pet has been left in the car fortoo long a time as determined from a continuous signal from the device222 without vehicle operation, the ECU activates either the horn 116,lights 118, or a distress signal 224 which may include an automatedtelephone call to the pet's owner as represented in block 232 or thelocal dog warden or animal control authorities as shown in block 234.

With reference next to FIG. 18, there is presented a logic flow chartshowing one of the methods associated with the occupant safety aspectsof the present invention. In this method, a driver and child or occupantID routine is initiated at step 236. As discussed above in connectionwith FIG. 17, the occupant may include the family pet. The driver ID ischecked at step 170 as described above. Next, the enable ignition step174, RPM check step 176, and trip expiration step 178 proceed as normal.Thereafter, the disable ignition step 180 is performed when, forexample, the car is parked in a normal manner. With continued lowvoltage supply, the system continues to run a check on any occupantpassengers remaining in the car after step 180. This check is performedat step 238 as indicated. If a child or pet is detected by its personalRFID emitter device 222, the system proceeds to step 240 where the hornor lights are activated, or a distress signal is dispatched. If nooccupant is detected, the system returns to the “do-nothing” or stand-bymode in step 182.

FIG. 19 is a multi-aspect logic flow chart showing several of themethods of the present invention integrated into a multi-method systemaccording to the present invention. Here a driver ID, license plate ID,child ID, pursuit shutdown protocol, and speed control ID routine isinitiated at step 242. First the driver ID step 170 is performed asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 15, for example. Next atstep 172, the license plate ID check is performed as described above inconnection with FIG. 10, for example. The enable step 174 and the RPMcheck step 176 are also performed as previously indicated. In thisparticular embodiment of the present method, the speed control step 214and speed control instruction step 216 are also performed as discussedin detail above in conjunction with FIG. 15. In this method, however, apursuit shut-down step 244 is performed. According to this step, if thevehicle receives a shut-down signal from the any one of the policedispatcher 104 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the satellite 106 (FIG. 2), thehand-held device 108 (FIGS. 2 and 4), or the road-side RFID reader 184(FIG. 11), the routine proceeds to the disable step 180 as illustrated.If no shut-down signal is received during the car trip, the routineproceeds to steps 178 and 180 without incident. As discussed above, theoccupant safety step 238 is then performed. If the vehicle is clear ofpassengers, the routine proceeds to the “do-nothing” or stand-buy modein step 182. On the other hand, if passengers remain in the vehicleafter step 238, the horn and or the lights are activated, or a distresssignal is dispatched in step 240.

While this invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the presentinvention is not limited to those precise embodiments. Rather, in viewof the present disclosure which describes the current best mode forpracticing the invention, many modifications and variations wouldpresent them-selves to those of skill in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of this invention. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the following claims rather than by theforegoing description. All changes, modifications, and variations comingwithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to beconsidered within their scope.

1. A vehicle occupant identification and safety system, said systemcomprising: an RFID equipped vehicle for use by an operator, saidvehicle including a computer system for controlling operating functionsof said vehicle; an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of said vehicle,said RFID emitter in communication with said vehicle computer systemwhen said passenger is in said vehicle; and processing logic associatedwith said computer system for determining when said operator of saidvehicle has discontinued vehicle operation and for detecting a signalfrom said passenger RFID emitter so that said computer system may beactivated to send a distress signal when said passenger has remained insaid vehicle after a predetermined time from when said operator hasdiscontinued vehicle operation.
 2. A method for vehicle occupantidentification and safety, said method comprising the steps of:providing an RFID equipped vehicle for use by an operator, said vehicleincluding a computer system for controlling operating functions of saidvehicle; providing an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of saidvehicle, said RFID emitter in communication with said vehicle computersystem when said passenger is in said vehicle; and providing processinglogic associated with said computer system for determining when saidoperator of said vehicle has discontinued vehicle operation and fordetecting a signal from said passenger RFID emitter so that saidcomputer system may be activated to send a distress signal when saidpassenger has remained in said vehicle after a predetermined time fromwhen said operator has discontinued vehicle operation.
 3. The vehicleoccupant identification and safety system according to claim 1 whereinwhen said passenger has remained in said vehicle after saidpredetermined time from when said operator has discontinued vehicleoperation, said computer system causes at least one vehicle light toflash on and off.
 4. The vehicle occupant identification and safetysystem according to claim 1 wherein when said passenger has remained insaid vehicle after said predetermined time from when said operator hasdiscontinued vehicle operation, said computer system causes a vehiclehorn to sound in a predetermined manner.
 5. The vehicle occupantidentification and safety system according to claim 1 wherein saiddistress signal includes directing a telephone call to a phone numberassociated with said operator.
 6. The vehicle occupant identificationand safety system according to claim 1 wherein said distress signalincludes directing a telephone call to a security service.
 7. Thevehicle occupant identification and safety system according to claim 1wherein said distress signal includes directing a telephone call to apolice authority.
 8. The vehicle occupant identification and safetysystem according to claim 1 further including a global positioningsystem (GPS) enabled to provide vehicle location information inassociation with said distress signal.
 9. The vehicle occupantidentification and safety system according to claim 1 wherein saiddiscontinued vehicle operation by said operator includes placing saidvehicle in a parked condition.
 10. The vehicle occupant identificationand safety system according to claim 1 wherein said distress signal isdispatched over a cellular telephone system.
 11. The vehicle occupantidentification and safety system according to claim 1 wherein saiddistress signal is dispatched over a satellite communications system.12. The method according to claim 2 wherein when said passenger hasremained in said vehicle after said predetermined time from when saidoperator has discontinued vehicle operation, said computer system causesat least one vehicle light to flash on and off.
 13. The method accordingto claim 2 wherein when said passenger has remained in said vehicleafter said predetermined time from when said operator has discontinuedvehicle operation, said computer system causes a vehicle horn to soundin a predetermined manner.
 14. The method according to claim 2 whereinsaid distress signal includes directing a telephone call to a phonenumber associated with said operator.
 15. The method according to claim2 wherein said distress signal includes directing a telephone call to asecurity service.
 16. The method according to claim 2 wherein saiddistress signal includes directing a telephone call to a policeauthority.
 17. The method according to claim 2 further including aglobal positioning system (GPS) enabled to provide vehicle locationinformation in association with said distress signal.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 2 wherein said discontinued vehicle operation by saidoperator includes placing said vehicle in a parked condition.
 19. Themethod according to claim 2 wherein said distress signal is dispatchedover a cellular telephone system.
 20. The method according to claim 2wherein said distress signal is dispatched over a satellitecommunications system.